New Year, New Resolutions: Get Involved in Your Community Today!
Here at Guard for Life we are welcoming the new year with open arms. We are excited to begin planning for Summer 2017, but first we wanted to look back on all the charities we have supported this past year.
We are thrilled that so many of our offices have participated in and donated to many different charitable programs all across the country. We believe it is important to involve yourself in your community and help those in need in any way that you can. Take a look at the charities we supported this past year and we guarantee you’ll find a community charity near you that needs your help! Resolve to help your fellow man, and become a volunteer or donate today!
New York | People to People & Clothes Closet
People to People is Rockland County’s largest food pantry working to help struggling Rocklanders through difficult times with dignity through its programs. For decades, People to People has been assisting our community’s most vulnerable families, anxious seniors and worried veterans. All of us at People to People believe that by helping our neighbors meet their basic needs, we make our a world a better place.
One program, Clothes Closet, provides People to People clients with warm coats, school clothes, onesies for newborns, professional outfits for job-seekers and more. Look here to learn more about the various programs People to People has created to help the those in need
Long Island | Long Island Cares
Founded by the late Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry and food insecure on Long Island and, to the best of our ability, provides for the humanitarian needs of our community.
Our goals are to improve food security for families, sponsor programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency, and educate the general public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island. Look here to learn more about the programs of Long Island Cares, and what you can do to make a difference with them.
New Jersey | Community Food Bank of New Jersey & LunchBreak
Our mission is to fight hunger and poverty in New Jersey by assisting those in need and seeking long-term solutions. We will engage, educate, and empower all sectors of society in the battle. For our neighbors, especially families, and for the volunteers and donors who support them, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) is the powerful change agent that fills the emptiness caused by hunger with the basic human essentials that people need to survive. Look here to find more about The Community Food Bank of New Jersey’s vision and how you can donate to their cause.
Lunch Break freely provides life’s basic necessities- food, clothing, and fellowship-for our community members in need. Our mission is to alleviate hunger and lead those we serve to self-sufficiency and healthier lifestyles. We serve everyone, with compassion and dignity. Look here for donation and volunteer opportunities, find joy in making a difference for your community.
South New Jersey | Food Bank of South Jersey
The Food Bank of South Jersey exists to provide an immediate solution to the urgent problem of hunger by providing food to needy people, teaching them to eat nutritiously, and helping them to find sustainable ways to improve their lives. We carry out our mission by operating on 7 core values: Respect, Collaboration, Diversity, Urgency, Integrity, Stewardship and Accountability, and Service. Look here to learn more about The Food Bank of South Jersey and how you can help their mission.
South New Jersey and APEI | One Warm Coat
Our organization started in 1992 with a Thanksgiving weekend coat drive at one location in San Francisco. Since then, we have grown to a national organization supporting over 3,000 coat drives each year. Our mission is to provide anyone in need with a warm coat, free of charge. Look here to find where to donate your gently used coats and learn more about One Warm Coat’s vision.
Philadelphia | Philabundance
Philabundance was created in 1984 with the simple belief that no man, woman or child should go hungry. We seek to drive hunger from our communities today and end hunger forever. We provide food to approximately 90,000 people per week – of which 30% are children and 15% are senior citizens – through our network of nearly 350 member agencies including food cupboards, shelters, emergency kitchens and more. There is no quick fix, but by collaborating with fellow organizations, partners, donors and the public, we are working towards making nutritious food accessible to all. Check out more of their programs and find out how you can help your neighbor in need.
Pittsburgh | North Hills Community Outreach & Project Bundle Up!
North Hills Community Outreach is an interfaith organization addressing the needs of people in crisis, hardship and poverty. In 1986, when flooding ravaged portions of the North Hills, local religious and community leaders began working together to assist flood victims, directing the resources offered by congregations, businesses, civic organizations and individuals to best meet the needs of affected families. When the flood work was over, it was clear that there was a real need in the community for an organization that addresses basic needs. As a result, North Hills Community Outreach was incorporated in 1987 as an organization of People Helping People. Look here to find all the volunteer and donation opportunities in your area.
Created in 1986, Project Bundle-Up is a joint community service effort of The Salvation Army and WTAE-TV Channel 4. This unique program, utilizing over 1,000 volunteers each year, provides new winter coats, hats, scarves, mittens and boots to thousands of underprivileged Western Pennsylvanian children and senior citizens annually. Over the past 30 years, Project Bundle-Up has raised more than $13 million and provided new winter outerwear for more than 267,000 individuals. Find out here how you can be a part of Project Bundle Up!’s mission.
Maryland | Grassroots Crisis Intervention
Grassroots Intervention Center – Grassroots provides supportive and professional 24-hour crisis intervention, suicide prevention, shelter, and outreach services to individuals and families experiencing a personal, situational, mental health, or shelter crisis. Our mission is not very complicated, it’s to serve those in need. Of course, more and more these days, carrying out that mission gets complicated. Today, providing our various services requires more staff, more planning, more resources and more skill than ever before. That’s why we are so grateful to all of you in both the public and private sector who support the work that we do. We would not be able to help those in need without the help we get from you. Look here to find out how to get involved and provide support for Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center.
Virginia | The Koinonia Foundation & Carpenter’s Shelter
The Koinonia Foundation is a faith-based organization, called to support adults and children in the Franconia/Kingstowne area. Koinonia helps to meet challenges of daily living by providing food, clothing, learning and emergency financial assistance to qualified clients regardless of beliefs. Koinonia is the sole nonprofit organization recognized by Fairfax County to provide both short-term emergency assistance and self-sufficiency services to citizens of the Greater Kingstowne/Franconia area. Learn more about the various programs provided by The Koinonia Foundation and find a way to donate or volunteer.
Carpenter’s comprehensive continuum of care offers continuous services, aiding the chronically homeless and shelter residents through their transition back into independent living. We empower our clients to address the issues which led them to homelessness and provide the tools necessary to achieve lasting independence.
At Carpenter’s Shelter, we believe that every person has a right to shelter. No one shall be denied shelter or services on the grounds of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or any characteristic protected by law. Look here to learn more about Carpenter’s Shelter’s mission and how you can provide support for your community.
North Carolina | Hurricane Matthew Relief & Capital City Clauses
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s Raleigh Hurricane Matthew Relief Center – After Hurricane Matthew hit, thousands of North Carolinians unexpectedly needed support. With your support, we’ve distributed over 2 million pounds of disaster relief food, water, and supplies (on top of our regular day to day operations). Our mission is that no one will go hungry in Central & Eastern North Carolina. Look here to learn more about our vision and how you can help us implement it.
The mission of the Capital City Clauses is to enrich children’s lives with hope, cheer and joy through giving programs that effectively engage community, individual and corporate partners with dynamic community events. With your help, the Capital City Clauses are able to provide thousands of toys to children in our local community every year through the Wake County Salvation Army‘s Christmas Cheer Program. Look here for more programs and ways to support the Capital City Clauses’ mission.
Georgia| North Fulton Community Charities & Lift Up Atlanta
North Fulton Community Charities is a leader in North Fulton offering assistance to over 5,000 families annually. Food was distributed over 20,000 times, over 2,000 families utilized clothing vouchers, and $1.3 million dollars was expended for direct aid to our clients in need of financial assistance. Our Education Center offers an array of classes and opportunities to help residents move toward financial stability and self sufficiency. Our mission is to build self-sufficiency and prevent homelessness and hunger in our community by providing emergency assistance and enrichment programs. Look here to find out how to take advantage of donation and volunteer opportunities, and learn more about NFCC and its vision.
Lift Up Atlanta is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that is committed to helping the homeless and feeding the hungry. All donations are tax deductible. We work with several homeless shelters in the metro Atlanta area and the homeless directly in providing everything from basic needs to computer training/job skills. Our goals are to provide services and programs to support the whole family. Our services range from feeding the homeless on the streets of Atlanta to our job readiness/self empowerment program to promote self sufficiency. Look here to learn more about Lift Up Atlanta and how you can help the community.
Texas | Houston Food Bank & Cenikor
In fall 2008, the Houston Food Bank merged with End Hunger Network, a Houston-area food rescue organization, thus making more effective use of community resources by working together as one. As a member of the nation’s largest non-governmental, domestic hunger relief organization – Feeding America – our goal is to make food accessible to hungry people in their greatest times of need. Our mission is to lead the fight against hunger, and provide food access for all. Check out our page to learn more about our mission and how you can contribute to ending hunger in your community.
Since our introduction in 1967, Cenikor has been dedicated to helping those in need. Over the past 50 years, Cenikor has evolved to offer supportive prevention services, outpatient substance use disorder treatment, detoxification services, mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders, and residential therapeutic treatment services in multiple states, has broadened to treat both adults and adolescents, and has impacted more than 100,000 lives in the process. We are committed to provide a foundation for better health and better lives for those we serve and our mission today shares the legacy of our origin. Look here to learn more about what we’re doing to help the community, and what opportunities there are for you to become part of our mission.
American Pool Enterprises, INC. | Community Action Partnership
Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. Look here to learn more about our mission and programs, and how you can help us better people’s lives.